Washboard.



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l. ,"Z Je? m @am H. T. DAHLY,

WASHBOARD.

APPLICATION FILED Dac. 11. 1914.

Patented Apr, 6, 1915.

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31A-venise@ THE MORRIS PETERS Co.. PHOTG-LITHO., WASHINGTDN. D. C.

H. T. DAHLY,

WASHBOARD.

APPLICATION FILED DEC. I1, 1914.

1,134,517@ Patented Apr, 6, 1915.

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J7 J9 J6 j@ Sgr 'HE MORRIS PETERS C0.. PHOTO-LITHO.. WASHINGTON. D. c.

UT STATES PATENT FFTC.

HAROLD' T. DAHLY, OF MINNEAPOLIS, MINNESOTA, ASSIGNOR TO SEVERINA DAHLY, 0F MINNEAPOLIS, MXNNESOTA.

WASHBOARI).

Application led December 17, 1914.

To all whom it may concern Be it known that I, HAROLD T. DAHLY, a citizen of Canada, residing at Minneapolis, in the county of Hennepin and State of Minnesota, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Vashboards, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to certain new and useful improvements in wash-boards and has as its primary object to provide an article of this character which will, while being so formed as to furnish a wash-board of novel construction, be constructed of relatively few individual elements which may be readily assembled to thus produce a construction capable of ready and inexpensive manufacture.

The invention has as a further object to provide a wash-board having a rubbing surface or working element of improved construction which will be composed of a plurality of individual rubbing members and wherein the said members will be so mounted and connected as to form a rubbing surface or working element of a single unit which may be bodily connected with the other elements of the device.

A further object of the invention is to provide a resilient support for the rubbing surface or working element at its lower eX- tremity and to so form said working element that it will be maintained firmly seated against the said support.

rlhe invention has as a still further object in this connection to provide a construction wherein the said resilient support for the working element will normally resiliently engage said element for yieldably maintaining it seated in position.

Other and incidental objects will appear 4as the description proceeds and in the drawings wherein I have illustrated the preferred embodiment of my invention and wherein similar reference characters designate corresponding parts throughout the several views, Figure 1 is a front elevation of my improved wash-board partly broken away, Fig. 2 is a vertical sectional view taken on the line 2 2 of AFigl and more particularly illustrating the construction of the rubbing surface of working element employed, Fig. 8 is a horizontal sectional view also particularly illustrating the construction and mounting of the working element, Fig. 4 is a fragmentary sectional view par Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Apr. 6, 1915.

Serial No. 877,774.

ticularly illustrating the manner in which the channel members of the working element are engaged by the resilient support for the said clement, Fig. 5 is a fragmentary perspective view particularly illustrating the construction of the channel members at their lower ends as well as the manner in which the said channel members are disposed to seat upon the resilient support therefor, and Fig. 6 is a fragmentary section al view showing the connection between the strips engaging the resilient support of the working element and the cross-piece of the washboard.

Referring more particularly to the drawings, it will be seen that my improved wash-board includes the side members or stiles 10 arranged in substantially parallel relation to each other and which are connected at their upper extremities by a cap piece l1. The confronting faces of the Stiles 10 are longitudinally grooved as at 12 and removably fitting in the said grooves and in a suitable groove formed in the cap piece 11 is a head board 13. Secured at its extremities in any suitable manner between the stiles l0 and having a suitable groove 14 formed in the adjacent face thereof to receive the lower edge of the head board 13 is a crosspiece 15, the lower face of the said crosspiece being straight from end to end and unobstructed.

Removably fitting in the grooves 12 of the stiles is a rubbing surface or working element designated as a whole at 1G in Fig. 1 of the drawings. More particularly. the said working element includes the confronting channel members 17 slidably fitting within the grooves 12, a plurality of weft wires or member 18 having their extremities engaged within the said channel members, and preferably, a pair of combined warp and truss members 19. The channel members 17 are each preferably formed from a single piece of suitable resilient sheet metal bent upon itself to provide the side walls 20 and a connecting wall 2l which extends at substantially right angles to the side walls. The grooves 12 are of such contour as to snugly receive the channel members 17, the connecting walls 2l ofthe said members bearing againstthe bottom walls of the said lgrooves while the'side walls 2O of the said 'members are normally disposed to rexpand -to resiliently engage against the side walls lapping relation and thus close the adjacent ends of the members.

Preferably, vthe lugs 22 arebowed longitudinally to extend Vinwardly between the side walls '20 of the members 17 at the adjacent extremities thereof to thus form upon the outer faces thereof, concave seats 23, the purpose of which will presently appear.

- vExtending'transverselybetween the channel members 17 are the weft wires' or members'18, the said members being arranged in ysuperposed relation to rest upon each 'other'and having their extremities freely .received within the channel member 17.

Intermediate`v their extremities, the weft wiresfare arrangedl to extend upon one side ofy one of thetr'us's members 19 and yt he n` uponv the opposite side' of the other truss member, the said truss members being preferably spaced at points equidistantv fromv vthe vertieah center line of thewor'king element 16 uponeach side thereofand being arranged substantially parallel the channel members 17. this coniifet'ion, it should beobserved' as best shown i'nj Fig. 3 of thek drawings, that adjacent weft wires r18 are threaded overthe truss members' 19, which as will beunderstood from the preceding description, thusconstitute warp members, in reverserelatiOn soV that adjacent weft wires will intersect each other at a point substantially midway between thesaid trussmembers and thus provide a relatively smooth working vsurface medially of the. working element, while a points adjacent the truss members 19; the `said weft :wires will provide a I "elativelyy rough workg. Surface# .K 1- lwef ires v 1 8 are preferably formed frmsiitabl.resilient material 0f.. a' gage adapted fo thepurpoae While th', truss members 19 may each befformed from a strip vvofsuitable metaL Particular attention is 'now directed t the fact that since ythe'extremities ofthe weft wires 18 are freely received within the channel' members the distance 4between the side' wa l ls of "the safi'd channel members'being' greater surfaces' formed medially of the working element at thel intersection of the. members 18 between the members 19, second, the relatively rough working surfaces provided Virnmediately adjacent or over the truss members 19, and third, the relatively rough yieldable working surfaces'provided by the extremities of the said members 18 adjacent they s"ti les"1"0.v Consequently, as will be observed, IY provide a working elerrient'l possessed of obvious important advantages, in that each side ofthe working element pre'- sents" working surfaces each adapted for a particular purpose. For instance inthe washing of lace, the relativelys'niooth working surfaces may b eused,forheavie1 fabrics, the' relatively rough workingl surfaces could `be used, while, were it found very difficult remove dirt'j from a garment, the yieldable werking surfaces referred to, cou1ci"be' mployed. f l From: the preceding description, it( will be observed that the wrkingelement 16 and comprising the channel members- 1.`7, the'weft wires 18,r and the truss' members 19,

constitu'tes as: an entirety, a single unit which may berefadily placed iny position betweenthe stiles 10, as' shown in Fig. ofthe drawings, by movingthe channelmenibers 17 longitudinally within the grooves 12, the

gro'ivesl opening at their` lowerl extremities through th`e`be'veled" fac`e`s'211 Yof the said Stiles,4 smorfe particularly shpvvnY in Fig. f the drawings, the uppermost oftheweft v'viresI 18 is arrangedV to seat against the adjacent lower face of the cross-piece 15 with the u `per extremities of the 'channel members" 1' abiitting",the said? chess-piece.

.The= erosjsi 15, ythereforey pr 'qvi'des an abutment or: the@ working element 16 at its extr'einity'y the acent upper extremitie's of the members' are passed thrcugli 4thfe said crois'sjpi'ece as -shown in 6 enter' the groovel 14 more parac'uiariy shew in Figi a- Theadjacent terminals of Asaai truss rumbas are thea o Ar tfoiii siiitable lugs engaging within 'said g'ove's".V Inth'is connection, willbej best ived uponfreference tf df the dI" WingS attention is" called a afectiva1hr-@daan 16v@ @da .of aeifaa eafa '1a is estema tof at u'poa the said lugs 25, and said board thus tends to maintain the truss members firmly connected with the cross-piece 15.

Extending transversely between the stiles 10 at the adjacent lower extremities of the channel members 17 and passing through the grooves 12 is a resilient supporting member 26. T he supporting member 26 is preferably formed from a length of suitable resilient wire and at its extremities is passed through suitable openings formed in the stiles 10, having its terminals bent laterally as at 27 to engage against the outer edges of the said stiles. The purpose of the concave seats 23 formed in the lower extremities of the channel members now becomes apparent since the supporting member 26 will normally rest within the said seats to support the working element 16 therebetween and the crosspiece 15.

At their adjacent lower extremities, the truss members 19 are looped around the member 26, as shown at 28, and particular attention is now directed to the manner in which the member 26 is caused to resiliently engage against the lower extremities of the channel members 17 for yieldably holding the said members seated at their upper extremities against the cross-piece 15. In looping the members 19 around the supporting member 26, the said supporting member is bowed upwardly intermediate its ends, as best shown in Figs. 1 and 5 of the drawings, causing it to flex upwardly from points adjacent the bottom walls of the grooves 12, toward the truss members 19. Such upward bowing or flexing of the member 26, in which position it will be supported by the members 19, causes the adjacent portions of the said supporting member 26 to move into yieldable engagement within the seats 23 and to consequently yieldably hold the working element 16 seated against the cross-piece 15. This is considered to be a feature of particular advantage in my invention in that possible injury to the working element 16 through warping of the stiles 10 or of the cross-piece 15 or other parts of the washboard which may be formed of wood, is reduced to a minimum. Further, rattling of the working element 16 between the stiles 10 or between the supporting member 26 and the cross-piece 15, will be obviated. It is also to be noted that in use, while the weft wires 13 will be rigidly supported intermediate their ends by the truss members 19, still, such wires being resilient, will normally fiex at their extremities, under the influence of a garment moved downwardly thereover, toward the supporting member 26, which movement of the said wires at their extremities will further tend to move the channel member 17 downwardly against the supporting member. It will be remembered that the supporting member 26 is also re silient and is thus disposed to yieldably resist such tendency of the channel members to move downwardly within the grooves 12. Consequently and as will be seen, the member 26 will, in use, yieldably support the working element 16 adjacent its side edges.

The stiles 10 are preferably formed of wood and as will be readily understood may be easily constructed. The cap piece 11 is secured to the stiles in any suitable manner and may thus be readily connected therewith. As previously explained, the head board 13 may then be readily arranged in position when the cross-piece 15 is then applied. The working element 16 and the supporting member 26 are then disposed in position in the manner heretofore set forth.

It will thus be observed that l provide a wash-board which, while providing a rubbing surface or working element of novel construction, is nevertheless, composed of few and simple parts which may be inexpensively manufactured. At the same time, it will also be seen that the construction provided will be thoroughly eflicient and durable in use.

Having thus described my invention what I claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent is 1. A device of the character described including a supporting frame having side members channeled to receive a working element, a working element fitting in said channels, the said working element including truss members engaging the frame, and a resilient supporting member extending between said side members at one end of the working element and engaged by said truss members, the said supporting member being bowed to engage the working element.

2. A device of the character described including a supporting frame, a working element including channel members carried by the frame, said channel members being each provided with a concave seat, a resilient supporting member for the working element engaging in said seats, and a truss member connecting the said supporting member with the frame.

3. A device of the character described including a supporting frame, a working element carried thereby and including channel members, a resilient supporting member for the working element arranged at one end thereof at adjacent extremities of the channel members, and a truss member connected at one extremity to the frame and at its opposite extremity to said supporting member for maintaining the said supporting member flexed into engagement with the said channel members whereby said supporting member provides a yieldable abutment for the working element.

4. A. device of the character described including a supporting frame, a. working elecarried thereby,'a resilient supporting member for the working element2 and aftru'ss member' connecting the supporting member gwitli the frame whereby the Y supporting member is bowed intermediate its ends to engage the working element. f

, 5. A: device of the character described in- Vc'iuding a supporting frame, a working element Carried thereby and including channel members, said channel members being each formed at one extremity with lugs' bent to provide a concave seat, a resilient supporting member for the working element, and a truss member connecting the frame and sup'- porting member whereby the supporting member is bowed to engage in said seats.

6." A device of the character'described invcluding a supporting frame, a working element including channel members having spaced side walls, a plurality of weft meinb'er having their extremities loosely received between the said side walls, a plurality of warp members constituting trusses secured 'at their upper extremities to the' frame,- the said weft members being alternately' crossed members, a relatively rough rubbingsurface adjacentv the warp members, and af yiel'dable rubbing surface adjacent the said channel 1nembers', said lweft members at their ex? tremities being disposed for movement between the side walls of the said channel members, and a resilient supporting member orthev working element engaging the'sai'd channel members and connected intermediate its ends to' the lower extremities of the said truss members.

In testimony whereof I alix my signature inI presence of two witnesses.V g' n HAROLD T. DA'HLY.

Witnesses: Y

WVILLi/A-M MARKS. H. R. PRossER.

C'opies of this patent may be obtained for five eents eaeh, by' addressing the Commissioner f Patents,

' Washington, D. C. Y f 

